As we did last summer, we are in the midst of evaluating ways to improve the site and bring you a better reader experience, as well as even more content to enjoy. Keep an eye out for tweaks and changes to the site to increase social integration and the overall presentation. We can’t wait to show you what we’ve been working on!

In addition to aesthetic changes, we are also unveiling a new audience development campaign — but we need your help. We are looking for 5 social champions to help us grow our subscriber base. OOB social champions will be asked to reach out to those folks you think might be interested in reading and encourage them to sign up for the email list, “like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Each champion will be provide unique url links, and the person with the most new sign ups will be able to choose from a number of OOB prizes, including a messenger bag, tote bag, backpack, blanket and tablet case. One prize will be available for each category, so there are three opportunities to be number one!

First, we need to know if you’re in. If you want to be one of our social champions, email me at autumn@outofboundsmag.com by June 14 and we will get started!

Thank you for your continued support and readership of Out of Bounds Magazine.

]]>697Out of Bounds Apparelhttp://outofboundsmag.com/out-of-bounds-apparel/
Tue, 27 Oct 2015 01:16:15 +0000http://outofboundsmag.com/?p=458Have you heard? You can now own Out of Bounds gear! In honor of our one year anniversary, get your men’s and women’s t-shirts, long-sleeved tees and hoodies for a limited time. Visit https://www.bonfirefunds.com/out-of-bounds-mag-shirts between now and November 8 to get yours before they’re gone!

After taking the summer off to regroup and make some plans, the September issue of Out of Bounds was released over the weekend. I’m really excited about all of the work our designer put in to revamp the look and feel of the publication just a little to bring what is really our most visually-compelling issue yet. I may have said that before, but it really is a personal goal of mine to make sure every issue tops the last.

The new issue celebrates the return of football — and what could be better than the return of football?! (We tackle other things in the issue too.)

Beginning in October, you will be seeing a lot more of us in your inbox and here at outofboundsmag.com. We will be making a concerted effort to stay on top of the news around the various leagues on an on-going basis instead of waiting for the monthly magazine. We will also provide more of the great commentary you love throughout the month and will be highlighting some of the magazine’s features each week. A new weekly Out of Bounds newsletter will start next month, bringing you the most interesting pieces from around the web and this site.

We’ve also launched a new GoFundme campaign to ramp up our marketing and social media efforts and to expand the work that we are doing.

I appreciate your continued support and readership and am looking forward to showing you what the future holds for Out of Bounds!

]]>379May issuehttp://outofboundsmag.com/may-issue/
Mon, 01 Jun 2015 15:47:39 +0000http://outofboundsmag.com/?p=357For those who don’t follow along on social media, the May issue dropped last night with one hour left in the month.

#BlameFIFA

No, but really. When the FIFA issue blew up early last week, there was no way we could put out an issue in the same week that did not address the issue. And “Kyle Scoop” (as Alexander calls him) and Rabb did a phenomenal job of covering all the ripples (or at least lots of the ripples) associated with this issue. But that pushed us back a bit, timing-wise.

On a personal note, I am proud of the publication’s growth to this point. I think this issue really gets to the heart of why the publication was created. FIFA could have easily been a cover story in a standalone issue, but the content was so strong in this issue that it didn’t make the front page.

We dedicated a good chunk of this issue (and the cover) to exploring the racial tensions that played out recently in Baltimore in the wake of the Freddie Gray protests, with baseball and the Orioles organization serving as the perfect backdrop to have this conversation. Baltimore historian Edwin Johnson and Chicago social justice activist Bryan Echols did a phenomenal job of painting a comprehensive picture of the tensions of race, class, sport and capitalism as they played out in the city recently.

Speaking of covers, if you know anything about me from previous endeavors, you know what a big deal cover imagery is to me. We not only have an amazing, powerful image on this month’s cover, but if you just scan the archives page of previous issues, we really have done a great job with covers to this point.

As always, looking forward to your feedback on what I think is the best issue yet!

]]>357New issue is out!http://outofboundsmag.com/new-issue-is-out/
Thu, 26 Feb 2015 19:30:11 +0000http://outofboundsmag.com/?p=311On the 26th day of a month that has only 28, I am thrilled to announce the latest issue of Out of Bounds Magazine is up!

You can access the new issue either via the home page or directly on issuu.

In February, we saw lots of challenges, but in the end, I’m proud of the final product. You’ll find inside a great Black History Month photo essay that we hope will teach you something new about Black participation in sports. There’s a story that looks at the dangers associated with Cuban athletes’ defection from the nation for an opportunity to play on the big stage for big money; the cover story examines the relationship between hip-hop and sports and yet another story looks at the saga of the Jackie Robinson West baseball team and how it illuminates overarching issues with the professionalization of youth sports.

I hope you enjoy February. As always, if you have something to say, I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to shoot me an email (via autumn@outofboundsmag.com) or a tweet (@A2Arnett) and let me know what you think!

Thank you for tuning in and checking us out. We’re pretty proud of the way things have turned out over here at Out of Bounds Mag, and your support means the entire world to us!

Take some time, look around, sign up to get the alerts delivered to your inbox. Bookmark the site, come back every week and let us know what you think. Then tell a friend. And another one. And another one. And help us spread the word about the work that we are doing. Because it’s all for naught if no one sees it, right?

On a serious note, this project has been an idea of mine since 2008, but I kept putting it off. And, with mainstream sports coverage increasingly drifting towards who’s wearing what and dating whom and the whereabouts of gnomes and other trinkets, what better time than now to actually get it done? A magazine that looks the serious side of sports, that makes the argument that sports ARE real life? What could be better?!

I owe a whole lot of thanks to Jarrett Carter Sr. for being the one to push the urgency of now. Because if it weren’t for Jarrett’s persistent “start that sports mag” and “write up a prospectus this weekend,” I’d still be thinking it was a great idea for someone ELSE to implement (then, perhaps, allow me to run).

Thanks are also due to every friend and loved one and casual acquaintance who supported the idea initially, the behind-the-scenes team getting the work done with me, all of the folks who excitedly asked “how can I write for the publication?” and you, who are taking the time to read it.

Now with the website launch complete (fingers crossed for no crashes or major catastrophes!), I turn my full attention to getting the first issue of the magazine up and out by Dec. 4.